Lausanne 2020: "Our promise becomes reality"

Lima, Peru, September 14, 2017 – At the occasion of the 131st IOC Session, the Lausanne 2020 Organising Committee presented its first report to the IOC membership since its election in July 2015. Patrick Baumann, President of the Organising Committee and Ian Logan, CEO, focused their message on the legacy that the Games will leave for the local communities as well as for the future of the Youth Olympic Games.

In its opening remarks, Patrick Baumann, President of the Lausanne 2020 Organising Committee, confirmed that the promises made during the bid would be delivered. He said: "Two years ago in Kuala Lumpur, my team and I made you the promise that Lausanne 2020 would be the start of something new. Today, I am happy to report that we will keep our promise."

This came a few weeks after the IOC announced a series of innovations both on the format and the content of future Youth Olympic Games. These innovations were supposed to be introduced after the Lausanne edition but given the great cooperation between many parties (IOC, NOCs, Sports Federations as well as City, State and Federal authorities in Switzerland), many of these changes will already be featured in 2020. "It’s a true opportunity that Lausanne 2020 has seized. In addition, these historical changes are being carried out within the existing budgets and deadlines", added Patrick Baumann.

These innovations include a new "two waves" system that will allow more athletes to take part in the Games without creating additional costs for the host. The higher number of athletes will increase the quality of competitions while at the same time it will guarantee total gender equity amongst participants. Innovation will also include new sports and disciplines, including Ski Mountaineering and a new mixed NOC 3x3 Hockey Tournament.

Ian Logan, CEO of the Lausanne 2020 Organising Committee, gave a more detailed explanation of the status of the organization, following the three overarching themes of Olympic Agenda 2020: sustainability, credibility and youth.

Lausanne 2020 is sustainable in the way that it accelerates existing plans, investments and partnerships that will have a positive impact for the local communities and young athletes for years to come. Among the examples given, the Youth Olympic Village, on the university campus, will accommodate 1400 students after the games, a much-needed increase in student accommodation in Lausanne. In addition, the construction of new sporting facilities, including a new ice rink, will be a great benefit to the local population, particular the youth. Finally, a new long-term partnership with neighboring France will enable young Swiss ski jumpers and biathletes to train in state of the art venues for the next 20 years.

For Lausanne 2020, credibility is also viewed in the sense that the Games will be relevant and important not only for competitive sport in Switzerland, but for the Olympic Movement as well, the athletes, their entourage and the International Federations and National Olympic Committees. This is mostly due to the format changes mentioned earlier, which will be introduced in Lausanne.

Finally, Ian Logan explained how youth will be at the core of the project, not only in term of participating athletes, but also in terms of organisation. Already since 2016, numerous partnerships with strong academic institutions in and around Lausanne have enabled the Organising Committee to use the energy, skills and innovative input of students: for example, the foundation of a digital strategy for the event, Games’ Mascot and visual identity are being developed with the help of local students. Ian Logan concluded with these words: "the Youth Olympic Games are a fantastic opportunity for a place to showcase the best it has to offer to the next generation. In Lausanne, we see this as a fantastic way to transition from an Olympic Capital to a true Olympic City, one that hopefully will make us all proud."

Patrick Baumann closed the presentation by thanking the Swiss authorities in attendance, Mr. Philippe Leuba, State Councillor and Mr. Oscar Tosato, City Municipal Councillor in charge of Sport for their continuous engagement as well as the IOC, the Swiss Olympic Committee and the International Winter Sports Federations, for their valued engagement. "They all believe in the power of youth", he concluded.

For more information, please contact:

Lise Cordey

Organising Committee Lausanne 2020

Email: lise.cordey@lausanne2020.com

Phone: +41 (0) 76 403 54 97

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